Floods: How religious organisations are championing response effort

After the tragic weather conditions that started on the night of Tuesday, May 2, claiming the lives of 130 people and destroying lots of property including thousands of houses, religious leaders countrywide are making outstanding contributions in the ongoing rescue activities. ALSO READ: PM Ngirente attends burial of flood victims in Rubavu In the affected regions, religious leaders welcomed victims of the disaster who were left homeless and provided basic needs including clean water, food, and as well as shelter in religious facilities. Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle, a TVET school located in Rugerero sector, in Rubavu district, under the management of the catholic church is one of the sites that is accommodating people whose houses were damaged in addition to those evacuated from high-risk zones, according to Brother Vital Ringuyeneza. By Thursday evening, people from different affected areas were still being welcomed into the compound for support. ALSO READ: Flood disaster: Death toll climbs to 130, over 5,000 houses swept Ringuyeneza said: “People are still coming here looking for a place to stay. Our compound is full and with the help of the authorities, we started to build tents so that people can get a place to sleep. Yesterday [Wednesday], in collaboration with the district, we provided food and clean water for all the people affected by this tragic disaster.” “As a religious organization, it is our calling to offer help to people in need. I think it should be everyone's responsibility. No one is ever ready to face such a disaster. It has left so many people vulnerable but the government and other partners' relief efforts are still underway.” The government has already provided 60 tons of food and other essential supplies for use by the affected people. ALSO READ: Flood response: Local government orders urgent relocation from high risk zones Joyeuse Nyiraneza, a survivor, appreciated how they were received in the compound of Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle. “Our house is in high risks area; you cannot leave in it. The disaster has left us homeless. We appreciate the effort of the government and other partners who are helping us in this very hard time. We also appreciate the administration of this site for accommodating us.” ALSO READ: Flood disaster: Death toll climbs to 130, over 5,000 houses swept The site has received more than 265 families from different disaster-affected areas. According to officials, at least 5,147 houses have been swept away by floods while 2,500 others were severely affected and left in poor condition, with 130 people reported dead. In Rubavu district, Jean Paul Rutakisha, the Director of CARITAS Nyundo, a non-government organization that intervenes in assistance to vulnerable people including victims of natural disasters, told The New Times that they are quickly assessing what is needed so as to intervene. “We use cash transfer to provide our donation and we have planned a budget of Rwf20 million for the disaster victims in our area,” he said. The Senior Pastor of the Pentecostal Church of Rwanda (ADEPR), Isaie Ndayizeye, sympathized with the bereaved families who lost their members to disasters, and said that the Church is committed to offering relief to those in need. He said: After the disasters, the first action we did was to provide church buildings and other infrastructures of the Church to serve as accommodation for those who do not have shelter. We will continue to be by their side.” Apart from providing accommodation to the affected people, as the Church, we are also mobilizing more relief aid to the affected people in various parts where disasters occurred. We also provided food to some of the people.”

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Floods: How religious organisations are championing response effort